Can opener



Oct. 16, 1956 J. R. SHEPERAK CAN OPENER Filed Aug. 30, 1955 IN VEN TOR.

United States This invention generally relates to a can opener and morespecifically provides a punch-type can opener of novel and improvedconstruction wherein the size and position of the aperture formed in thetop of a can by the opener may be varied.

An object of the present invention is to provide a de- A mountable wallattached can opener having a pivotal handlethereon integrally formedwith a pivotal V-shaped punch for engagement with the tops of tin cansto be opened wherein pivotal movement of the handle will causepenetration of the punch downwardly through the top of the can therebyforming V-shaped apertures therein.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a canopener in accordance with the preceding object in which pointed membersare provided for engaging under the rim of a can for supporting the sameand a plurality of such supporting members are provided in spacedrelation thereby permitting vertical adjustment of a can in relation tothe punch, thereby varying the radial point of contact of the point ofthe V-shaped punch and Varying the size of the opening of the apertureformed thereby.

Other objects of the present invention will reside in its simplicity ofconstruction, ease of attachment, ease of operation, adjusting features,adaptation for its particular purposes and its relatively inexpensivemanufacturing cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the can opener of the presentinvention with a can illustrated in dotted line for illustrating therelationship of the elements of the invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse, vertical sectional View taken substantiallyupon a plane passing along section line 2 2 of Figure l illustrating theconstruction of the two side members and the recess in the bottom of thedevice for providing access to the cap remover;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantiallyupon a plane passing along section line 3 3 of Figure 2 illustratingfurther structural details of the can opener; and

Figure 4 is an exploded group perspective view illustrating the elementsof the invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generallydesignates the can opener of the present invention including a pair ofvertically disposed side plate members 12 and 14 which are rigidlyinterconnected by bottom portions 16 and 18 wherein one edge of thebottom portions 16 and 18 are interconnected by a bottom ledge or edge20 formed integrally with the side member 12. The rear terminal verticaledges of the side members 12 and 14 are provided with outwardlyextending flanges 22 and 24 which are provided with latent Lif),downwardly converging side edges 26. Attached to and extending betweenthe outer surface of the flanges 22 and 24 is a mounting plate 28 havingedges 30 which downwardly converge coextensively with the edges 26 o fthe flanges 22 and 24. Disposed in a mounting plate 28 between the sidemembers 12 and 14 is a pair of vertically spaced and aligned keyholeslots 32 for engagement with a pair of vertically spaced headed screwfasteners (not shown).

For mounting the can opener 1t) on a supporting wall surface, a channelshaped mounting bracket generally designated by the numeral 34 isprovided, which includes a web portion .36 and outwardly extending legs38 which terminate in inturned edges 40 thereby forming a channelshapedguideway wherein the legs 38 are disposed in downwardly convergingrelation for receiving the converging edges 26 and 30 of the flanges 22and 24 and the mounting plate 28 for supporting the can opener 10. Theweb 36 is provided with an offset portion 42 having apertures 44 thereinfor receiving screw threaded fasteners for the purpose of mounting thebracket 34 on a supporting wall wherein the major portion of the canopener may be removed therefrom thereby forming a portable and readilydemountable unit,

The upper and outer corners of the side members 12 and 14 are rounded asdesignated by the numeral 46 and provided with transversely alignedapertures 48 for receiving a pivot bolt 50 extending therethrough forreceiving the hinge barrel 52 at one end of an elongated handle 54 whichis generally channel shaped at its outer end and provided with alongitudinal rib formed by a longitudinal recess 56. The other end ofthe hinge barrel 52 is provided integrally with a V-shaped cutter 5Shaving lsharpened edges 69 and a slightly depending pointed free end 62.

The free terminal edges of the side members 12 and 16 are provided withinwardly extending notches 64 which define projecting lugs 66 whereinthe upper edges of the projecting lugs 66 are provided with downwardlyand inwardly inclined edges 68 which intersect with the outer edge ofthe lugs 66 in an acute angle thereby forming an upwardly extendingpointed projection for engagement under the rim 7ll of a tin can 72wherein the top 74 thereof may be penetrated by the punch 53 when thehandle 54 is moved downwardly to the position illustrated in dotted linein Figure l. By positioning the rim 70 of the can 72 in selectivenotches with selective pointed ends of the lugs 66 engaging under therim of the can 70, the point of contact between the pointed end 62 ofthe punch 5d and the top 74 of the can 72 may be varied thereby varyingthe radial extension of the V-shaped opening in the top 74 and alsoregulating or varying the size of the opening. It will be understoodthat the material cut from the top 74 is pushed downwardly alongside theinner surface of the can thereby providing access to the materialstherein. The device of the present invention is especially adapted foruse with fluid containers and especially those utilized in canningbeverages wherein the beverage will be poured from the can forconsumption.

Also, the side member i4 is provided with an upwardly extending hookshaped recess 76 in the bottom edge thereof between bottom portions 16and 1S which forms a bottle cap remover.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A can opener comprising a frame having a pair of spaced parallel sidemembers disposed in vertical rela tion and terminating in free verticalend edges, a punch pivotally mounted between said side members, anelongated handle extending integrally from said punch for moving thepunch, said free end edges of said side members having vertical spacednotches disposed in transversely aligned pairs for receiving the rim ofa can for positioning the top of a can in position for penetration bythe punch, said notches permitting variation in the point of contactbetween the punch and the top of the can for varying the size of theopening formed therein.

2. A can opener comprising a frame having a pair of spaced parallel sidemembers disposed in vertical relation and terminating in free verticalend edges, a punch pivotally mounted between said side members, anelongated handle extending integrally `rom said punch for moving thepunch, said free end edges of said side members having vertical spacednotches disposed in transversely aligned pairs for receiving the rim ofa can for positioning the top of a can in position for penetration bythe punch, said notches permitting variation in the point of contactbetween the punch and the top of the can for varying the size of theopening formed therein, said notches having downwardly and inwardlyinclined lower edges for forming pointed upwardly facing corners forhooking under the rim of a can for secure engagement therewith.

3. A can opener comprising a frame having a pair of spaced parallel sidemembers disposed in vertical relation and terminating in free verticalend edges, a punch pivotally mounted between said side members, anelongated handle extending integrally from said punch for moving thepunch, said free end edges of said side members having vertical spacednotches disposed in transversely aligned pairs for receiving the rim ofa can for positioning the top of a can in position for penetration bythe punch, said notches permitting variation in the point of contactbetween the punch and the top of the can for varying the size of theopening formed therein, said punch comprising a generally llat V-shapedmember having sharpened edges and a downwardly tapering free end forengaging the top of a can radially inwardly of the rim thereof andcutting a V-shaped aperture therein and bending the material cutdownwardly alongside the inner surface of the can, said notchespermitting variation in the radial point of contact between the punchand can top thereby varying the size and radial extension of theapertures.

References Cited in the lc of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,029,812 Dazey Feb. 4, i936 2,458,254 Cole lan. 4, 1949 2,691,821Geipel Oct. 19, 1954 2,698,992 Williamson et al Jan. ll, 1955

